Covering for pianos



May 22, 1934. w. E. SHARP COVERING FOR PIANOS Filed June 3, 1932 FIE-El IN VEN TOR.

TTORNEYS.

Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in protective coverings, and has particular reference to a covering means adapted to be positioned over the exposed interior mechanism of a piano such as a grand piano.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a transparent covering that will permit the attractive mechanism to be readily visible, and yet will serve as a positive means for preventing moths, dampness, dust, and other foreign matter from contaminating and contacting the interior of the piano.

A futher object is to provide a covering that will not effect the tone quality of the piano.

An additional object is to provide a sectional covering that can be readily assembled for use or disassembled for storage purposes.

Another object is to provide a covering that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, durable and highly efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a piano of the grand type showing my covering applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the covering and the frame therefor,

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the covering on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In practice the cover of a grand piano is raised and braced to expose to view the bright multi-oolored array of steel, wood and felt and the other mechanism that comprises the action part of the piano. It has been found that pianos are frequently, seriously damaged by the accumulation of rust and dampness and the entrance of dust and moths that gather on the exposed key actuating machanism of he piano.

I am cognizant of the fact that a moth-proof covering is sometimes utilized but when there is no cowering employed the recited foreign matters readily accumulate and when there is a solid covering employed the attractive interior mechanism of the piano is hidden from view. To overcome these difficulties and disadvantages I propose to employ a transparent shield that will effectively cover the interior mechanism and yet render readily visible the attractive action parts of the piano.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 4 designates a piano of the grand type while the numeral 5 designates the cover thereof which is suitably braced as by the element 6. Within the body portion of the piano the action mechanism is housed, which action mechanism is surrounded by a casing as indicated by the numeral 7. It is within this wall that my invention is applied, and referring to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be noted that I have provided a plurality of frames 8, 9 and 10. Each frame conforms to the contour of the casing of the piano and retains therein, a transparent sheet of cellulose material 11, the combined frame and transparent material serving as the protective covering for the interior of the piano.

As disclosed to advantage in Fig. 3 it will be noted that I have provided a tongue and groove connection indicated by the numeral 12, for the respective frames 8, 9 and 10, so that the said frames will be retained in alignment and will have no tendency to be displaced, due to excess vibration. The numeral 13 designates the legs for the respective frames 8, 9 and 10 so that the covering will be spaced from the key actuating mechanism of the piano.

From the foregoing description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing it will be obvious that I have devised a covering that will effectively portect, preserve and enhance the appearance of the piano.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus claim:

A removable sectional covering for the interior mechanism of a piano, comprising a plurality of supported frames detachably secured one to the other by a tongue and a groove connection, and strips of transparent material secured in each of said frames, the securing means for the transparent material comprising grooves formed in the respective frames.

WILLIAM E. SHARP.

described my invention, I 

